-- 𝑯𝒚𝒂𝒌𝒖𝒋𝒖𝒖 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊 𝑮𝒂𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 -- Gaoranger is my third venture to the early 2000s Sentai, with Magiranger and Hurricaneger being the two previous outings I have seen. Gaoranger has a lot put on its shoulders compared to those two, as it holds the title for being the anniversary Sentai series. So does it really deserve that title? Or should it had been held by, say, Timeranger? In short, yes and no. Gaoranger has a very middle of the road first half, the average episode of this sector is at best a really entertaining and well written episode and the other half is kind of a bleh episode that doesn’t really seem memorable. But when the second half kicks in, oh baby we are in for some really strong Sentai. The characters gain more defining qualities, motivations elaborated, the chemistry is stronger, and the cast has a stronger idea of what they want to express with their characters. Gaoranger is, so far, probably the only 2000s Sentai I have seen that feels like it has a clear focus on what it wants but doesn’t fall into “what are we doing with this?” that the other two tend to enter more often that they should. It understands what it wants, does what it sets out to do, and doesn’t try to go above and beyond what I think its successors try to do. I went into this show expected maybe at most a middle of the road Sentai, held back by the title of the “Anniversary” show but surprisingly the show seems to care less about the idea that is celebrates the franchise and more so concerns itself with being just a Super Sentai show and that feels like an essential part of why the show ends up swooping me up into actually liking it. -- 𝑮𝒂𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒔 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊 -- The true anniversary Sentai moment for Gaoranger, where the acknowledgement of the past Sentais goes without mention. It’s not a wholly necessary watch to me, but the fact you get to see the Sentais from Goranger to Timeranger mentioned and even the presence of the Dream Sentai team of Big One, MegaPink, DynaBlue, GoYellow, LiveRed as they mentor the Gaoranger team feels so earnest that the novelty of the movie feels given. Should it have been shorter? Yeah, but ultimately it still feels bittersweet. -- 𝑮𝒂𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒔 -- The solo Gaoranger film is basically what you’d expect, a true to tone extended episode that is just a “more Gaoranger” ordeal. It has some cool moments here n there, and seeing the cast is always nice. -- 𝑮𝒂𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒔 𝑯𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒓 -- Sentai ever since the 90s has been diving into the “Current versus Predecessor” Sentai to give us more of our favorite characters in short terms, and as a Hurricaneger and Gaoranger fan I was immediately absorbed into it. The Hurri cast feels way more capable in this film, as one of the main issues Hurri has is the cast’s inexperience as actors holding back many of the key emotional or powerful moments. Plus, Shurikenger is here and seeing this dork is always fun.
